1965-1970

The Cold War
A Nation Divided
Summary: By 1967 the United States had sent almost 500,000 American soldiers to Vietnam. Their primary strategy was in keeping the Vietcong from convincing the rural south to side with Communist beliefs. In order to do this they used gasoline-bombs and leaf-killing toxins to destroy the landscape and also performed many search-and-destroy missions that uprooted villagers tied to the Vietcong. However many soldiers suffered from a severe drop in morale and therefore turned to alcohol and drugs to deal with the war that seemed fruitless of a victory. Back at home the nation suffered from a division of interests in support of the war. Citizens were divided into doves, those who thought that the United States should withdraw, and hawks, those who believed America should use all forms of military tactics to help end the war. Polls were conducted in 1967 that showed 70% of the Nation saw protests as acts of disloyalty. On top of a lack of support from the home front and a declining morale soldiers had to face the Tet Offensive in 1968, a massive surprise attack by the Vietcong on the South Vietnamese. This caused a drastic change in the public's opinion of the war. Before hand the majority of Americans were skeptical towards anti-war protesting but after this attack, the people and media began openly criticizing the war. Americans everywhere started to turn on Johnson, who accordingly decided to step down from the 1968 election, leaving the nation to look to another president to lead them out of this war. Those duties fell to Richard Nixon--who in fact did not lead America immediately out of war as it would not be declared "over" until four years later.

The War is Over

Analysis: This song is about the war being over and about the effects of the war such as the one legged veterans walking down the street. He uses a metaphor about a parade to having courage in the war. He also shows us that it was important to trust your leader in the war. He talks about how the war brings fear to many soldiers. He shows how many people were not welcome of the soldiers when they came back home. He writes his lyrics in a sarcastic tone to show that it felt to many soldiers that it was not worth serving the country for this war.
The War Is Over

vietnam-war-soldier.jpg



To the right is an image of a Vietnam War soldier in a field of battle.




Other Primary Document:

McGeorge Bundy to President Johnson:
Analysis: In this document McGeorge writes a memo to President Johnson on February 7, 1965. In this he states that there needs to be a policy of reprisal against the North and is justified by the violence and terror in the South. We will make it clear that the reprisals will be stopped and or reduced once once the outrages in the South are stopped. To stop the Communists we have to stop their activity in the South. We feel that the reprisal will have a depressing affect upon the Viet Cong. We can not know if this will fail but if it does fail it will be worth it. It will dampen the Viet Cong's spirit. This shows the U.S. willingness to employ a new norm. McGeorge desperately wants to stop the Viet Cong however he can and this document is trying to pursaude the president ot allow him to do so.
Excerpts from McGeorge Bundy's Memo to President Johnson, February 7,1965.


Civil Rights
Summary: During 1965 the SCLC* conducted a campaign in Selma Alabama to help the SNCC with voting rights (3% of the voters were African Americans). By January 1965 2,000 Africans were arrested. The voting rights Act of 1965 was passed by Congress which eliminated the literacy test which disqualified many voters. The proportion of African voters increased from 10% in 1964 to 60% in 1968.Two very influential men that dealt with civil rights were Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King JR. Malcolm X preached equality of all races and made quite a bit of enemies. On February 21,1965 he went to preach to 400 followers and was shot dead. Dr. King had many followers. Him and other followers pushed really hard for equality but did not want violence. He stopped the use of Black Power because he believed it would provoke violence. The biggest event for Civil Rights was in 1968 when Dr. King was shot. On April 3 he went out onto his balcony and was shot by James Earl Ray. An hour later the man that dreamed of racial peace was dead. About 125 cities erupted in flames. Political and racial violence marred 1968. The Civil Rights Act of 1968 was passed to ban discrimination in housing. Lastly in 1970 2/3 of the eligible African Americans were registered to vote.

*SCLC- Southern Christian Leadership Conference. An organization formed in 1957 by Dr. King to work for civil rights through nonviolence.
SNCC-Student Nonviolent Coordinating committee.


Miranda V. Arizona
Analysis: In this case Miranda had been question and confessed and signed a statement to that confession before being told he could have a lawyer. This confession was used at the trial. Chief Justice Earl Warren then said that before questioning, a person is given the "Miranda Warning", which states that you have the right to remain silent; anything you say can be used as evidence; you may request a lawyer, either retained by you or obtained by the court; and that you may stop answering questions or request a lawyer. This was one of the most controversial decisions in the Warren court. This goes along with Civil Rights because you have these rights in the court and during the 1960's a lot of these rights were not present.
Miranda V. Arizona

Other Primary Document:
Lyndon Baines Johnson
Analysis: In this document Lydon Baines Johnson talks about signing the civil rights act movement. This speech was given in 1968. He signed a message to congress that called for the enactment for the federal law against discrimination in the sale of house renting. He did this in 1966 and the law did not get passed. He pleaded for it again in 1967 but again nothing. Sitting in the White house in 1968 he pleads that America does not and can not move forward until this law is enacted. This document is intended for registered voters and the Congress to hear his plead to make America a more fair place.
Remarks on Signing the Civil Rights Act (April 11, 1968)



Technology
Summary: The major technological advances in this time were in manned space exploration. In 1965 Edward White II took the first spacewalk by an American and in 1969 Neil Armstrong was the first person to set foot on the moon. Occurring during the Nixon administration, amidst a political war, the world watched as Armstrong touched down on the moon thereby satisfying President Kennedy's dreams ten years before and quenching America's thirst for new discoveries. This historic landing, now referred to as one of America's proudest moments, was the reward of many new technological discoveries made in the preceding years in the reexternal image lunar_landing.jpgalm of space travel.







Analysis: This picture shows Neil Armstrong being the first man on the moon. This boosted the American Technology greatly because if we could make it to the moon successfully then what else could our technology bring us to. After this great achievement the United States focused a lot on the Science department.
Neil Armstrong Walks on the Moon



Agreement on Rescue of Astronauts, Return of Astronauts and return of objects launched into space, April 22nd, 1968

Analysis: This document was written in 1968. With the new capabilites in space travel, an agreement regarding the safety and return of objects and subjects sent to space was drafted in April of 1968. The articles of this agreement consisted of the Contracting Parties must be required to rescue or extend assistance to any spacecraft in need of emergency landing or in other times of distress, and for the Contracting Party to strive for a speedy rescue. It also included that a spacecraft in distress must notify the launching authority who in turn must notify the Secretary General of the United Nations. Lastly it included that space objects that landed on Earth out of jurisdiction or in the high seas to be returned to the launching authority, or the State responsible for sending it out to space. The rest of the articles pertaining to this agreement worked out the details of becoming a member or withdrawing from this agreement.
Agreements on Space Travel and its entities



Economics
Summary: More tax money was spent in the inner cities and the forced school busing of children. More government spending happened during this era and more medical supplies for the elderly was being purchased. Many people joined the Peace Corps during this era and a lot of the Government spending went to sending people all over the world to help places build houses and such. During 1965-1970 the lack of jobs was a huge problem for the African Americans.The African Americans had a poverty rate 3 times greater than whites. To help Africans with this situation the Government promoted affirmative action ( included making special efforts to hire or enroll people/groups who suffered from discrimination in the past). Lastly a lot of the Government spending went to technological research and advancing the science departments in schools.

Analysis: This document shows the poverty rate over the years. We see that during the years of 1965 to 1970 the poverty rate started to fall. We know that this was in part to do with the Government placing laws to allow people who have been discriminated to be able to obtain a job.
Number of Poverty and Poverty Rate: 1959 to 2006

Other Primary Document:
Analysis: Johnson wrote this document in 1964. He talks about poverty in th United States. He states that the Economic Opportunity Act is a great thing for the U.S. and it enables people who have been discriminated against for somet ime to go out into the world and pursue better things. This document is pointed towards African Americans and other minorities. He also states that it is our duty to help those aroudn us get out of poverty, we are a country and united so we should act like it.
L.B.J. Remarks on signing the Economic Opportunity Act


Culture
Summary: The Late 1960's to the early 1970's was known as an era of social change. Latinos, Native Americans, and Women all strive for equality. Cesar Chavez promoted unionization of Latin Americans in the work force, and later created the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee that sought higher wages and better working conditions for Mexican Americans in California. Native Americans developed the American Indian Movement, an often militant organization that fought for Native Americans' rights. Feminism erupted and in 1966 several women created the National Organization for Women which pursued feminist goals such as better child-care facilites, improved educational opportunities, and an end to job discriminization. This was also a time when the American society was split into culture and counterculture. This new counterculture was the complete opposite of mainstream America, consisteing of 'barbaric', white, middle-class, college youths. This group was later referred to as "hippies", and their goal was to promote peace and love through rock 'n' roll music, expressive clothing, and the liberal use of drugs. However in a few short years this cultural class declined as violence prevailed and crime skyrocketed.

Analysis: This is a poster for Woodstock, a free music festival that attracted over 400,000 youths, most of the counterculture class and idolized rock musicians of America. external image Woodstock_music_festival_poster.jpgBands and musicians included Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker, Jaon Baez, the Greatful Dead, and Jefferson Airplane. Considered a jamboree of peace, love, and rock
.
Woodstock Poster

Other Primary Document:
Analysis: This is a statement from Delano Grape Workers during their strike in 1969 and discusses the inequalities experienced by minority groups, such as Mexican Americans, Filipinos, and Africans during these times.
Proclamation of the Delano Grape Workers
















Works Cited
The Cold War Summary
Danzer, Gerald A., et al. The Americans. Evanston, Boston, and Dallas: McDougal Littell Inc., 2000. Chapter 30, pages 884-913.
The Cold War Primary Document- The War is Over
Trent. “The War is Over.” Phil Ochs. 20 Nov. 1999. 8 June 2009 <http://web.cecs.pdx.edu/~trent/ochs/lyrics/war-is-over.html>.
The Cold War Primary Document- Excerpts from McGeorge Bundy's Memo to President Johnson
Sheehan and others, Pentagon Papers. “The Vietnam Wars.” The Wars for Vietnam. 2009. Vassar College. 8 June 2009 <http://vietnam.vassar.edu/doc10.html>.
Civil Rights Summary
Danzer, Gerald A., et al. The Americans. Evanston, Boston, and Dallas: McDougal Littell Inc., 2000. Chapter 29, pages 856-877.
Civil Rights Primary Document- Miranda v. Arizona

Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. “Miranda v. Arizona.” Infoplease. 2007. Columbia University Press. 8 June 2009 <http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0833372.html>.
Civil Rights Primary Document- Remarks on signing the Civil Rights Act
Remarks on Signing the Civil Rights Act (April 11, 1968). 2009. Miller Center of Public Affairs. University of Virginia. 8 June 2009 <http://millercenter.org/scripps/archive/speeches/detail/4036>.
Technology Summary
Danzer, Gerald A., et al. The Americans. Evanston, Boston, and Dallas: McDougal Littell Inc., 2000. Pages 840, 948.
Technology Primary Document- Neil Armstrong Walks on the Moon
Boat, Eli. “Image. Lunar Landing.” Eli Boat. 2009. Word Press Entries. 8 June 2009 http://www.eliboat.com/wp-content/lunar_landing.jpg.
Technology Primary Document- Agreement on Space Travel and its entities
Lillian Goldman Law Library. “Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space, April 22, 1968 .” The Avalon Project. 2008. Yale Law School. 8 June 2009 http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/usmu014.asp.
Economics Summary
Danzer, Gerald A., et al. The Americans. Evanston, Boston, and Dallas: McDougal Littell Inc., 2000. Pages 866, 877
Economics Primary Document- Number of Poverty and Poverty Rate
U.S. Census Bureau. “Number in Poverty and Poverty Rate 1959 to 2006.” About.com. 2007. About.com. 8 June 2009 http://z.about.com/d/uspolitics/1/0/5/G/004_poverty_rate.png.
Economics Primary Document- L.B.J. remarks on signing the Economic Opportunity Act
Peters, Gerhard, and John Woolley. “Lyndon B. Johnson.” The American Presidency Project. 2009. University of California. 8 June 2009 http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=26452.
Culture Summary
Danzer, Gerald A., et al. The Americans. Evanston, Boston, and Dallas: McDougal Littell Inc., 2000. Chapter 31 pages 920-937
Culture Primary Document- Woodstock Poster
“Image. Woodstock Poster.” Woodstock. 2007. solarnavigator.net. 8 June 2009 http://www.solarnavigator.net/music/music_images/Woodstock_music_festival_poster.jpg.

Culture Primary Document- Proclamation of the Delano Grape Workers
“Mexican American Voices.” Digital History. 8 June 2009. 8 June 2009 http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/mexican_voices/voices_display.cfm?id=111.




Made by: Lindsay Fox and Caitlin Hanley